Maurice Fayne, also known as Arkansas Mo, who was once featured on Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta, has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison for Paycheck Protection Program fraud.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fayne ran a multi-state scheme that defrauded more than 20 people over seven years. He told investors he was going to use their money to operate a trucking business. However, according to investigators, Fayne used the money to fund his extravagant lifestyle.
His final fraudulent act was applying for a $3.7 million loan for his trucking business, which he claimed had 107 employees and a monthly payroll of $1,490,200.
“Fayne planned to use the PPP program as a cover for his long-running Ponzi scheme,” acting U.S. Attorney Kurt Erskine told The AJC in an emailed statement. “The funds the program supplies serve as a lifeline to many businesses desperately trying to stay afloat during the pandemic, and unfortunately his fraud helped deplete those precious dollars.”
According to the federal government, Fayne used the loan money for improper purposes. He started a new business in Arkansas for $907,000 and spent $230,000 paying associates, who helped him run his Ponzi scheme. He also spent $136,000 to lease a Rolls-Royce.
Investigators also uncovered that Fayne spent $85,000 on custom jewelry, $65,000 in cash withdrawals and $40,000 for past-due child support.
In addition to his lengthy sentence, Fayne was also ordered to pay $4,465,865.55 in restitution.
“This sentence should serve notice that the FBI and our federal partners will investigate anyone who misdirects federal emergency assistance earmarked for businesses who need it to stay afloat,” Chris Hacker, special agent of FBI Atlanta, told The AJC. “We won’t tolerate anyone driven by personal greed to pocket American taxpayer money that should be going to those who need it.”
As previously reported, Arkansas Mo was featured on the show as the fiancé of Karlie Redd.
Fayne obtained the loan under the name of Flame Towing, his entrepreneurial business. He applied for a loan for $3,725,500 to “retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule.”
He was ultimately awarded more than $2,000,000 by United Community Bank.
The Paycheck Protection Program was a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — or the CARES Act. It was set up to help small businesses pay their employees and maintain their businesses during the coronavirus pandemic that has kept much of America in its grip.
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